Quote

I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze, than it should be stifled in dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, with every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. - Jack London 寧化飛灰,不作浮塵。 寧投熊熊烈火,光盡而滅;不伴寂寂朽木,默默同腐。 寧為耀目流星,迸發萬仗光芒;不羨永恒星體,悠悠沉睡終古。 - Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, quoted in Hong Kong Policy Address 1996 (the last address before 1997 handover to China)

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Monday, July 21, 2025

[July 21, 2019] A night I was so enraged that I couldn't forget, a night the Hong Kong & China Government has colluded with Traid Gang Members, together with Police assulting Anti-Government Protesters.

Before this day, we still believe Hong Kong was a place of law and order. We were shocked and furious watching live on TV and social media witnessing a regime working together with Gangsters to rule the society. It happened in movie but it went true that night.

After that night, my homeland has long gone. It has passed the point of no-return.

Years later on court, the assigned judge defined the incident was characterized as a mutual confrontation between two groups, not solely an assault by the white-clad group on civilians. It is blurring the line between black and white and calling a spade a shovel!

It is indiscriminate assault, this is terrorism.



Background

The events in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, occurred amid the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, which began in March 2019 against a proposed extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. These protests evolved into broader demands for democracy, police accountability, and protection of Hong Kong's autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework. Tensions were high, with frequent clashes between protesters and police. In the lead-up to July 21, there were warnings in Yuen Long—a district in the New Territories near the border with mainland China—about potential violence. Local villagers and pro-Beijing figures, including Legislative Council member Junius Ho, had publicly urged action against protesters, with some online posts calling for residents to "protect their homeland." Rumors circulated that triad (organized crime) members might target protesters dressed in black, the common attire for demonstrators.

On July 21 itself, a large protest organized by the Civil Human Rights Front took place on Hong Kong Island, drawing around 138,000–430,000 participants marching from Causeway Bay to Sheung Wan. The march started peacefully but escalated into violence near the Chinese government's Liaison Office, where protesters defaced the national emblem, blocked roads, and clashed with police. Police resources were heavily focused on Hong Kong Island, leaving areas like Yuen Long understaffed.

Sequence of Events

In the evening of July 21, 2019, a mob of approximately 100–700 men dressed in white shirts and armed with wooden sticks, metal rods, poles, and rattan canes gathered in Yuen Long. They were suspected by many observers and victims to have ties to triads and local villages. Around 10:00–10:30 pm, the assailants began attacking people on the streets, targeting those in black clothing (associated with protesters returning from the Hong Kong Island demonstration), as well as journalists, bystanders, and commuters. The violence escalated when the mob stormed the Yuen Long MTR (subway) station around 10:45 pm, assaulting people on the concourse, platforms, and inside train carriages. Victims included pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was severely injured (requiring 18 stitches), a pregnant woman, and ordinary residents like chef Calvin So. The attacks were indiscriminate, with reports of beatings continuing intermittently until around 3:55 am on July 22.

Despite over 24,000 emergency calls to the 999 hotline starting from around 10:45 pm, police response was delayed. Two officers arrived briefly at 10:52 pm but left, citing being outnumbered and lacking protective gear. A larger group of about 30 officers arrived at 11:20 pm—39 minutes after the initial attacks and shortly after the main mob had dispersed. No immediate arrests were made, even though police encountered some white-shirted men with weapons; in one instance, officers were seen patting an armed man on the shoulder before letting him go. Police stations in the area reportedly closed their gates to citizens seeking help, and some hotline operators advised callers to stay home if they were afraid.

Allegations of Police Inaction and Collusion

The incident sparked widespread allegations of police negligence, inaction, or even collusion with the attackers. Critics, including pro-democracy lawmakers like Eddie Chu and Lam Cheuk-ting, pointed to the delayed response, the lack of arrests on the night, and prior warnings that police relatives had allegedly shared with residents (e.g., advising against wearing black). Videos showed pro-Beijing politician Junius Ho shaking hands with white-shirted men, calling them "heroes" and thanking them for their "hard work," though Ho claimed he was unaware of the attacks at the time and defended the mob as reacting to protester violence. Former Independent Commission Against Corruption investigator Stephen S.N. Char suggested police misconduct, comparing it to past incidents during the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

Police denied collusion, attributing the delay to stretched resources from the Hong Kong Island clashes and claiming they saw no ongoing criminal activity upon arrival. However, investigations by journalists, such as Bao Choy's documentary for RTHK, revealed police presence in Yuen Long earlier in the evening without intervention, leading to her prosecution (later overturned on appeal) for accessing public records. The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) report in 2020 concluded there was no direct evidence of collusion but acknowledged online calls for violence from both sides, describing the event as a "gang fight" rather than a one-sided attack—a narrative shift criticized as downplaying the mob's role.

Responses from Government and Authorities

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the violence but refused to label it a "riot," unlike some protester actions. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung issued an apology for the handling but expressed full support for the police. Pro-Beijing figures portrayed the attacks as a defensive response to protesters "invading" Yuen Long, with some media blaming demonstrators for provocation. Internationally, the U.S. condemned the "orchestrated violence," the UK monitored the probe closely, and countries like Japan and South Korea issued travel warnings. Pro-democracy groups called it "terrorism," comparing it to state-sanctioned violence.

Aftermath

At least 45 people were injured, some seriously, with no fatalities reported. Initial arrests were minimal, but by 2021, seven attackers were sentenced to 3.5–7 years in prison for rioting and wounding—the first convictions related to the incident. Paradoxically, some victims, including Lam Cheuk-ting, were later arrested and charged with rioting, accused of escalating the situation. A district council task force investigated but faced obstructions, especially after the 2020 national security law stifled dissent. The event eroded public trust in police, fueled further protests (e.g., a march in Yuen Long on July 27 leading to more clashes), and became a symbol of alleged government-triad ties to suppress the movement. As of 2025, victims and activists continue to seek full accountability, though official narratives have evolved to frame it as mutual violence rather than a targeted mob attack.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

[Poet by AI] Clever & Hardworking


Though diligence may forge success's chain,
It crafts no key to wisdom's hidden domain.
Yet cleverness, with cunning's spark divine,
Claims victory swift—and greater still, when toil aligns.


Original:
a hardworking man may be successful but he will never become clever.
a clever man may be successful and he can be even more successful with hardworking.


Vocabulary:

diligence (n) - careful and persistent work or effort
forge (v) - to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty
cunning (adj) - the quality or skill of being clever at planning something so you get what you want
divine (adj) - connected with a god, or like a god
swift (adj) - happening or moving quickly or within a short time, especially in a smooth and easy way
toil (n) - hard work, especially work that makes you feel physically tired
align (v) - to put two or more things into parallel. 

[Music] 初恋 / めざめ ~ 夢の続き / 言葉よりも… / 茜色の軌跡 - 大橋 恵

Animation: うた∽かた 詩片 (2004) 
Music: 初恋 (First Love)
Genre: Soft


Music:  めざめ ~ 夢の続き(Awakening ~ The continuation of the dream)
Genre: Soft


Music:  言葉よりも… (More than words…)
Genre: Soft


Music:  茜色の軌跡 (Crimson trajectory)
Genre: Soft


Saturday, July 19, 2025

[Music] Sprinting Spirits - 佐藤 直紀

Animation: Eureka seveN  (2005)
Music: Sprinting Spirits
Genre: Epic


The China Strategy on Foreign Companies - 養 nurture, 套 trap, 殺 kill

The term ("養 nurture, 套 trap, 殺 kill") suggests a three-stage process where China

1. initially encourages foreign investment (nurture), then 2. imposes conditions that limit or control the company's operations (trap), and finally 3. squeezes them out or reduces their market share to favor domestic firms (kill). Below is an analysis based on available information and the broader context of China's economic policies:

Understanding "養套殺" in Context

  1. Nurture (養): China has historically attracted foreign companies with its massive market potential, low-cost labor, and incentives like tax breaks or subsidies. For example, policies under the "Open Door Policy" since the late 1970s encouraged foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering access to a growing consumer base and manufacturing capabilities. Companies like Apple, Volkswagen, and Tesla have benefited significantly, with Apple earning $227 billion in operating profit in China over a decade and Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory becoming a critical production hub.
  2. Trap (套): Once foreign companies establish operations, they often face regulatory and market pressures that align with China's industrial goals. These include requirements for joint ventures, technology transfers, or compliance with stringent national security and data laws. For instance, foreign firms may be compelled to partner with local companies, share intellectual property, or localize production, as seen in cases like GM's partnerships in the auto industry. Additionally, China's "negative lists" restrict foreign access to certain sectors, and vague regulations on "state secrets" can create operational uncertainties.
  3. Kill (殺): Over time, foreign companies may lose market share to domestic competitors, often supported by state policies. This can involve subsidies for Chinese firms, discriminatory regulations, or non-tariff barriers like those faced by H&M after its stance on Xinjiang cotton. The rise of companies like Huawei and Xiaomi, which have outcompeted foreign brands in sectors like electronics, exemplifies this phase. Some foreign firms, like Lotte and Samsung, have exited China entirely due to these pressures, while others face declining profitability

Conclusion

"養 nurture, 套 trap, 殺 kill" reflects a pattern some foreign companies experience in China, driven by policies that prioritize domestic industry growth. While not an explicit government strategy, it aligns with observed trends in China's industrial policies and market dynamics. Foreign firms should conduct thorough due diligence, assess sector-specific risks, and weigh the benefits of China's market against potential long-term challenges.

[Photo That Shaped History] A Man on the Moon (1969)

 

Taken by Neil Armstrong on June 20th, 1969, A Man on the Moon showcases astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he takes some of his first steps across the moon’s surface.

Equipped with a 70mm lunar surface camera, Armstrong set out to document Apollo 11’s expedition through a series of photos detailing the crew-of-two’s first steps, and the placement of the American flag.

Immortalized from all of those photos is A Man on the Moon. In it, Aldrin stands alone with nothing but the vast expanse of the moon as his backdrop. With not a modicum of humanity surrounding him, Aldrin is swallowed by the great unknown of space, capitalizing on the feelings of loneliness and curiosity that, even today, drive us to find life beyond the fringes of earth. His singular presence in the photo also punctuates the whole point of the expedition: a man landed on the moon.

Friday, July 18, 2025

[July 17, 2025] "Bad-Debt Bank" Proposal in Hong Kong?

The news about a proposed "bad-debt bank" in Hong Kong originated from reports published by reputable financial news outlets on July 17, 2025. Specifically, sources like The Business Times, The Straits Times, Bloomberg, and The Edge Malaysia reported that some of Hong Kong’s major banks, including Hang Seng Bank and Bank of Communications, were in early-stage discussions with advisory firms about setting up a special vehicle to manage non-performing loans (NPLs). These discussions were spurred by a significant increase in soured loans, estimated at US$25 billion to US$32 billion, primarily tied to the struggling real estate sector, and specific cases like New World Development’s refinancing. The proposed entity was reportedly modeled after China’s distressed asset managers, aiming to help banks offload bad debts and recoup a portion of the loans. The reports cited sources familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously due to the private nature of the discussions, and noted that the talks were preliminary with no clear indication of traction among banks or regulators

These articles highlighted the growing concern over Hong Kong’s non-performing loans, which reached a two-decade high of 2% of total loans by March 2025, according to Fitch Ratings estimates based on Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) figures. The real estate sector’s challenges, including a surge in office vacancies and a more than 50% drop in commercial property valuations, were cited as key drivers behind the discussions. The reports also mentioned a recent US$11 billion refinancing deal for New World Development as an example of efforts to avert deeper financial crises in the sector.

Is It Fake News?

The claim that Hong Kong banks were discussing the creation of a "bad-debt bank" does not appear to be fake news, as it was reported by multiple credible sources with consistent details. However, on the same day as these reports (July 17, 2025), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued statements denying any intention to set up a "bad bank" and affirmed that Hong Kong banks maintained healthy balance sheets. These statements were shared via posts on X by accounts such as @FirstSquawk, @LiveSquawk, @RedboxWire, @iNewsroom, and @MarketNews_Feed, emphasizing the HKMA’s position that no such plan was in place and that the banking sector’s asset quality was manageable.

The HKMA’s denial suggests that while discussions among banks may have occurred, as reported, there was no official or regulatory endorsement of the "bad bank" proposal. The HKMA further stated that banks’ provisions were sufficient and that the banking sector’s capital ratio (24.2% as of March 2025) and liquidity coverage ratio (182.5% for major banks) were well above international standards, indicating financial stability

How a "Bad Debt Bank" Works

A "bad debt bank," often referred to as an asset management company (AMC) or distressed asset vehicle, is a financial institution or special-purpose entity created to acquire, manage, and dispose of non-performing loans (NPLs) and other distressed assets from banks or financial institutions. The primary goal is to clean up the balance sheets of banks, allowing them to focus on core lending activities while mitigating systemic risks to the financial system. Here’s how it typically works:

  1. Acquisition of Bad Assets: The bad debt bank purchases NPLs (loans where borrowers have defaulted or are unlikely to repay) from commercial banks, often at a discount reflecting the impaired value of the loans. This transfer removes toxic assets from the banks’ books, improving their financial health and regulatory ratios.
  2. Funding Mechanism: Bad debt banks are typically funded through a combination of government backing, bond issuance, or capital from private investors. In some cases, the government may provide guarantees or subsidies to facilitate operations.
  3. Asset Management and Recovery: The bad debt bank manages the distressed assets by restructuring loans, negotiating with borrowers, or selling the assets (e.g., underlying collateral like real estate) to recover as much value as possible. This may involve legal action, asset sales, or converting debt into equity.
  4. Resolution and Disposal: The bad debt bank aims to resolve the NPLs over time, either by recovering funds through repayments or by selling the assets to third parties, such as private investors or distressed asset funds. The proceeds are used to repay creditors or investors.
  5. Systemic Benefits: By removing bad loans from banks, the bad debt bank helps stabilize the financial system, restores lending capacity, and reduces the risk of broader economic fallout from widespread defaults.

[Photo That Shaped History] End of Hong Kong (2019)





In 2019, Hong Kong was gripped by massive pro-democracy protests sparked by a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. The protests, initially peaceful marches drawing millions, evolved into months of intense confrontations, with demonstrators demanding greater democratic freedoms, an independent inquiry into police conduct, and the withdrawal of the bill. Iconic scenes included umbrellas used as shields against tear gas, widespread graffiti, and occupations of key infrastructure like the airport. The movement, marked by resilience and global solidarity, ultimately led to the bill's withdrawal but saw increased Chinese control with the 2020 National Security Law, which curtailed dissent and reshaped Hong Kong’s autonomy. It marked the end of "old Hong Kong".


Thursday, July 17, 2025

[Photos That Shaped History] Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Island, War World II (1945)

 

One of the most iconic photos of World War II, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Island by photographer Joe Rosenthal has been engrained nationwide into the minds of Americans as a symbol of victory and patriotism.

In the photo, Rosenthal snaps six American marines raising the U.S. flag on top of Mount Suribachi to mark its capture. The flag in question served as the commander-ordered replacement to a much smaller flag, and was hoisted up in order to inspire the troops present for the capture.

Rosenthal’s photo was published a mere two days after its capture, and immediately skyrocketed to fame. It became so famous, and so positively regarded, that Rosenthal eventually won a Pulitzer Prize in Photography for it.

Today the photograph continues to represent America’s role in World War II, and perseveres in inspiring feelings of victory and unity.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

[Photo That Shaped History] Tank Man (1989)

 

On June 4, 1989, the Beijing protests in Tiananmen Square, initially driven by students demanding democratic reforms, were violently suppressed by Chinese authorities, resulting in significant loss of life. The following day, an iconic moment emerged when a lone protester, known as "Tank Man," stood defiantly in front of a column of advancing tanks on Chang’an Avenue. Carrying shopping bags, this unidentified man repeatedly moved to block the tanks’ path, symbolizing individual courage against overwhelming state power. His identity and fate remain unknown, but his image became a global symbol of resistance.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

[Photos That Shaped History] Vietnamese War (1972)

The most powerful images of war focus, not on the battlefield itself, but on the civilians affected by conflict. Perhaps the most well-known image of this is Nick Ut’s 1972 photograph The Terror of War. In it, Ut documents a group of people running away from a napalm strike. In the centre, a naked 9-year-old girl stands screaming from the pain of the burns. This image was incredibly shocking, a young girl, who had no relation to the conflict, was being murdered by it. More shocking, was that Ut’s photograph was documenting an event caused by the US. It struck and confronted North American audiences, causing many to rethink their perceptions of the United States foreign policy, and highlighting the extremes of the catastrophe at hand. This photo sparked the anti-war in the US and led the withdrawal in the Vietnamese War.

Friday, July 11, 2025

Immigration Issue in the U.K.


Being a new legal immigrant to the UK, I understand how the local feel. UK left EU is also due to immigration control, and till now, Labour Party has taken the office from Conservative and still talking how to get the border control back. How many years it has been since pre-Briexit? 10 years! 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

[Music] His Smile / Forgive Me / Gatway to Heaven - 堀川麗美

Movie: Love Letter (1995)
Director: 岩井 俊二 Shunji Iwai
The following music MV can only be played directly on Youtube, please enjoy there.

Music: His Smile
Genre: Soft

Music: Forgive Me
Genre: Soft

Music: Gateway to Heaven
Genre: Soft


Movie Story Plot:




Monday, July 7, 2025

[Song/Music] 鉄道員 / 終章 - 坂本龍一

Movie: 鉄道員 (1999) [Railway Man]
Song: 鉄道員
Singer: 坂本美雨
Genre: Soft


Music: 終章 [Final Chapter]
Genre: Soft


Movie Story Plot (Chinese)


Saturday, July 5, 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

中國的經濟崩坍遠比外表看來嚴重,全因官方造假愈來愈誇張。

 


開始了造假就不能不造下去,直到爆破。

對中國(或蘇聯共產)歷史有了解,都知道體制內是高層定指標,最可惡是給最高層的資訊往往不是真實的,或不敢給真實的。最高層在錯誤的資訊下訂出錯誤的指標,下層愈是達不到愈是造假。

蘇聯1932年至1933年烏克蘭大饑荒普遍認為是由於蘇聯政府實施的農業集體化政策,以及對糧食的強制徵收和出口,導致烏克蘭農民生活困苦,糧食短缺。新中國成立後1958-1962大躍進、人民公社化(農業集體化)、制度缺陷、政策錯誤餓死1600萬-5500萬人。

我帶出以上的歷史是因為政府領導的集體造假,頂層的生活是不會被到影響的,而他所接收的資訊又是假的所以做出錯誤的決定。制度上的不建全是人民的災難!

Thursday, July 3, 2025

[Jun 30, 2025] Something worth paying attention to in China.

 中共中央政治局召开会议

审议《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》
中共中央总书记习近平主持会议

新华社北京6月30日电 中共中央政治局6月30日召开会议,审议《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》。中共中央总书记习近平主持会议。

会议指出,设立党中央决策议事协调机构,是健全党中央对重大工作集中统一领导、推动重大任务落实的重要制度安排。制定出台《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》,进一步规范党中央决策议事协调机构的设立、职责和运行,对于发挥好对重大工作的顶层设计、统筹协调、整体推进、督促落实职能作用,具有重要意义。

会议强调,党中央决策议事协调机构要准确把握职责定位,坚持谋大事、议大事、抓大事,对重大工作实施更为有效的统领和协调,做到统筹不代替、到位不越位。要深入调查研究,提升决策议事质效,提出切合实际、行之有效的政策举措。要力戒形式主义、官僚主义,工作务求实效。

会议还研究了其他事项。


English Translation

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Convenes a Meeting

Deliberation of the "Regulations on the Work of the Party Central Committee’s Decision-Making, Deliberation, and Coordination Bodies"
Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Presided Over the Meeting

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 30 — The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting on June 30 to deliberate the "Regulations on the Work of the Party Central Committee’s Decision-Making, Deliberation, and Coordination Bodies." Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The meeting pointed out that the establishment of the Party Central Committee’s decision-making, deliberation, and coordination bodies is an important institutional arrangement for strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the Central Committee over major work and for promoting the implementation of major tasks. The formulation and promulgation of the "Regulations on the Work of the Party Central Committee’s Decision-Making, Deliberation, and Coordination Bodies" further standardizes the establishment, responsibilities, and operations of these bodies. This is of great significance for ensuring the top-level design, overall coordination, comprehensive advancement, and supervision of the implementation of major work.

The meeting emphasized that the Party Central Committee’s decision-making, deliberation, and coordination bodies must accurately understand their responsibilities and positioning, focus on major issues, discuss major matters, and address major tasks. They should provide more effective overall leadership and coordination for major work, ensuring coordination without substitution and presence without overstepping. In-depth investigation and research should be conducted to improve the quality and effectiveness of decision-making and deliberation, and to propose practical and effective policy measures. Formalism and bureaucratism must be firmly opposed, and work should be results-oriented.

The meeting also discussed other matters.

======================
The most notable underlying message is the further institutionalization of the Party Central Committee’s decision-making mechanisms, which are now firmly under President Xi Jinping’s control. This represents a significant consolidation of political power and could trigger internal competition within the party’s elite.

In one possible scenario, President Xi could eventually relinquish some authority, leading to a shift in China’s political direction. Alternatively, internal tensions could escalate, potentially resulting in intervention by military or security forces in Beijing, with the risk of broader national instability. In the most destabilizing scenario, the leadership might initiate external conflict—such as an escalation over Taiwan—to divert attention from domestic challenges

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Technology innovation from China?

There are numerous cases highlight a pattern where Chinese companies often start by replicating or adapting proven foreign technologies and business models, then iterate and localize them aggressively. This approach has been criticized as lacking original R&D and relying on intellectual property from "giant" foreign innovators. Here are some examples illustrating how Chinese companies have developed technologies or products closely modeled on foreign originals, often sparking copyright or intellectual property debates:

Deepseek comes from ChatGPT
Baidu comes from Google
WeChat comes from Whatsapp
Taobao/Alibaba comes from Amazon
BYD comes from Tesla
Xiaomi Phone comes from Apple iPhone
Weibo comes from Twitter/Facebook
China High Speed Train technology comes from Japan and France
China Aircraft C919 comes from Airbus A320
China Atomic Bomb technology comes from Russia

Historical Copying and Reverse Engineering:
China has long been characterized as a "copycat" nation that extensively reverse engineered and copied foreign technologies, especially from the U.S., Japan, France, and the Soviet Union. This copying helped Chinese firms quickly launch products and enter markets but often limited their ability to innovate beyond the original designs.

Forced Technology Transfer and Joint Ventures: 
China required many foreign companies to form joint ventures with Chinese firms as a condition for market access, which often entailed sharing proprietary technology. However, foreign firms frequently withheld core or critical technology, limiting China's ability to develop fully independent competitive products.

Evolution from Copying to Adaptation and Innovation: 
Over time, Chinese companies moved beyond mere cloning to creating products "fit for purpose" that meet local market needs at lower cost. This shift was supported by government innovation ecosystems and intense domestic competition, helping some firms like Joyoung and Huawei develop original products and technologies.

Emerging Global influence and Reverse Copying: 
More recently, Chinese tech firms have become sources of innovation themselves, with Western companies increasingly copying Chinese digital models, such as super apps (WeChat), social e-commerce, and short video platforms (TikTok). This marks a reversal of the earlier "copy-to-China" model to a "copy-from-China" phenomenon.

Intellectual Property Challenges: 
Despite progress, China still faces criticism for intellectual property theft and coercive practices to acquire foreign technology. This has benefited Chinese companies in the short term but has also been argued to hamper their long-term innovation capacity.

Cultural and Systemic Factors: 
China's innovation ecosystem is influenced by a cooperative "shanzhai山寨(copycat)" culture of open sharing and rapid iteration, which contrasts with Western IP norms. This has enabled fast-paced product development but also complicates IP enforcement and originality claims.

In summary, while much of China's technological advancement has historically relied on secondary development based on foreign "giant" research, the landscape is evolving. Chinese firms are increasingly innovating and exporting technology models, though challenges around core independent R&D, open academic environments, and genuine breakthrough innovation remain. Many Chinese "independent" developments are better described as second-generation innovations built upon foreign breakthroughs, often through reverse engineering, adaptation, or leveraging open-source and leaked technologies. This has fueled rapid industrial growth but also ongoing debates about intellectual property rights and genuine innovation capacity.

China’s military modernization has heavily relied on reverse engineering, cyber espionage, and technology transfer from Russia, the U.S., Israel, and others. Many Chinese weapons are “clones” or near-copies of foreign systems but often incorporate domestic subsystems and modifications to suit local needs. This pattern includes aircraft, missiles, drones, vehicles, and naval systems, reflecting a broad strategy of acquiring and adapting proven foreign technologies to accelerate China’s military capabilities. The following examples clearly illustrate the widespread practice of China producing copycat military systems based on foreign giants, often sparking international concern over intellectual property theft and military balance.

Russian Su-27 / Su-30 Fighter Jets becomes China J-11 / J-15 fighter Jets
China reverse-engineered Russian fighter jets to produce the J-11 and J-15, though with mixed success.

USA F-35 Fighter Jet becomes Shenyang J-35
The J-35 stealth fighter is widely considered a copy or heavily inspired by the U.S. F-35, developed partly through cyber espionage

Russian Tor-M1 SAM system becomes HQ-17 SAM system
Chinese surface-to-air missile system copied from the Russian Tor-M1

Russia S-300 air and missile defense systems becomes HQ-9
China acquired Russia’s S-300 system about six years before producing its own version, the HQ-9, which remains a primary surface-to-air missile system for the Chinese military. This was done apparently with Russian acquiescence or collaboration in some cases, such as the HQ-16 system derived from the Russian Buk-M1-2. China purchased the S-400 system from Russia in 2014 and began testing it around 2018. However, Russia reportedly delivered a simplified export version of the S-400 to China with key advanced functions blocked to protect its technological secrets and limit competition. Chinese specialists tried but failed to access these blocked functions, leading to abandonment of some efforts to fully replicate the system.